Marcelus' First Swimming Lessons

Marcelus wanted to put these Thomas stickers around his arms yesterday. He even wore his Thomas shirt yesterday!

Here are a few pictures from Marcelus' swim lessons today!

Giving the kids high 5's

Marcelus walking back to the wall

Marce walking out to his teacher

Phoenix trying to keep cool with some juice

Marce trying to find the toy his teacher has

These two had a little time out on the step because they tried venturing off down the wall too far

Marce paddling and kicking

Gilbert Parks and Rec has a lot of great programs to get your kids into. After swim, we'll be heading to Logandale for a while and after that Sharrid is going to take swimming lessons but after that I wouldn't mind putting Marce into another program of some sorts. They have all kinds of things to get your kids involved in and it would be great for Marcelus.

We have always taken Marcelus into the water since he was born and he's always been comfortable in the water, also in the tub and the shower. Thank goodness I don't have a kid (yet) that freaks around water. Marcelus is 3 now and ready to learn how to swim so I put him in swimming lessons through our Parks and Rec. He goes this week and next, 8 sessions in all for 30 minutes a session/day. He loves it and it's been fun (and hot) to watch him answer to a "teacher" and be able to get out and be challenged. Every day directly after swim lessons, Marce and I go swimming in our complex pool and practice the things he's learning in lessons for about another half hour before Shar has to leave for work. He is great at kicking when I push his bum to the wall but his paddling is terrible. He doesn't hardly move his arms at all and kicks like crazy to keep his head above water. I'm trying to get him to concentrate on his arms and really paddle! He tries to float on his back but I can tell he's uncomfortable and tense. I'm also trying to teach him to blow bubbles through his nose. He does okay at that but sometimes blows bubbles through his mouth instead. It's great to see your kids learn knew things and Marce is lucky because I get to see him learn everything first, and that's special. I must say that with Phoenix it's just as fun watching him learn new things too because it's been so long that Marce learned it that as parents we're ready to see the next one learn it.